A thin, insulated wire called a lead, or electrode that is placed into the brain

The neurostimulator, which puts out the electric current. The stimulator is similar to a heart pacemaker. It is usually placed under the skin near the collarbone, but may be placed elsewhere in the body

Another thin, insulated wire called an extension that connects the lead to the neurostimulator.

Surgery is done to place each part of the neurostimulator system. In adults, surgery takes place in two stages (two separate surgeries).

Stage 1 is usually done under local anesthesia, meaning you are awake, but pain-free. (In children, general anesthesia is given.)

Your head is placed in a special frame using screws to keep it still during the procedure. Numbing medicine is applied where the screws contact the scalp. Sometimes, the procedure is done in the MRI machine and a frame is not used around your head.

Numbing medicine is applied to your scalp at the site where the surgeon drills a small opening in the skull and places the lead into a specific area of the brain.

If both sides of your brain are being treated, the surgeon makes an opening on each side of the skull, and two leads are inserted.

Electrical impulses may need to be sent through the lead to make sure it is connected to the area of the brain responsible for your symptoms.

Stage 2 is done under general anesthesia, meaning you are asleep and pain-free. The timing of this stage of surgery depends on where in the brain the stimulator will be placed.

The surgeon makes a small opening (incision), usually just below the collarbone and implants the neurostimulator. (Sometimes it is placed under the skin in the lower chest or belly area.)

The extension wire is tunneled under the skin of the head, neck, and shoulder and connected to the neurostimulator.

The incision is closed. The device and wires cannot be seen outside the body.

Once connected, electrical pulses travel from the neurostimulator, along the extension wire, to the lead, and into the brain. These tiny pulses interfere with and block the electrical signals that cause symptoms of certain diseases.

Why the Procedure is Performed:

DBS is commonly done for persons with Parkinson disease when the symptoms cannot be controlled by medicines. DBS does not cure Parkinson disease, but can help reduce symptoms such as:

Tremors

Rigidity

Stiffness

Slow movements

Walking problems

Deep brain stimulation may also be used to treat the following conditions:

Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, which can lead to headache or meningitis

Loss of balance

Reduced coordination

Shock-like sensations

Slight loss of movement

Speech or vision problems

Temporary pain or swelling at the site where the device was implanted

Temporary tingling in the face, arms, or legs

Problems may also occur if parts of the DBS system break or move. This may include:

Device, lead, or wires break, which can lead to another surgery to replace the broken part

Battery fails, which would cause the device to stop working properly (the battery normally lasts 3 to 5 years)

Wire that connects the stimulator to the lead in the brain breaks through the skin (may occur in very thin people)

The part of the device placed in the brain may break off or move to a different place in the brain (this is rare)

Possible risks of any brain surgery are:

Blood clot or bleeding in the brain

Brain swelling

Coma

Confusion, usually lasting only for days or weeks at most

Infection in the brain, in the wound, or in the skull

Problems with speech, memory, muscle weakness, balance, vision, coordination, and other functions, which may be short-term or permanent

Seizures

Stroke

Risks of general anesthesia are:

Reactions to medications

Problems breathing

Before the Procedure:

You will have a complete physical exam.

Your doctor will order many laboratory and imaging tests, including a CT or MRI scan. These imaging tests are done to help the surgeon pinpoint the exact part of the brain responsible for the symptoms. The images are used to help the surgeon place the lead in the brain during surgery.

You might have to see more than one specialist, such as a neurologist, neurosurgeon, or psychologist, to make sure that the procedure is right for you and has the best chance of success.

Before surgery, tell your doctor or nurse:

If you could be pregnant

What medicines you are taking, including herbs, supplements, or vitamins you bought over-the-counter without a prescription

If you have been drinking a lot of alcohol

During the days before the surgery:

Your health care provider may tell you to stop taking medicines that make it hard for your blood to clot, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

If you are taking other medicines, ask your doctor if it is OK to take them on the day of or in the days before surgery.

If you smoke, try to stop. Ask your doctor for help.

Your doctor or nurse may ask you to wash your hair with a special shampoo the night before surgery.

The night before and on the day of surgery, follow instructions about:

Not drinking or eating anything for 8 to 12 hours before the surgery.

Take the medicines your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.

Arrive at the hospital on time.

After the Procedure:

You may need to stay in the hospital for about 3 days.

The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

You will return to your doctor's office at a later date after surgery. During this visit, the stimulator is turned on and the amount of stimulation is adjusted. Surgery is not needed. This is process is also called programming.

Call your doctor if you develop any of the following after DBS surgery:

Fever

Headache

Itching or hives

Muscle weakness

Nausea and vomiting

Numbness or tingling on one side of the body

Pain

Redness, swelling, or irritation at any of the surgery sites

Trouble speaking

Vision problems

Outlook (Prognosis):

People who have DBS usually do well during the surgery. Many persons have great improvement in their symptoms and quality of life, though most still need to take medicine at lower dosages.

This surgery, and surgery in general, is riskier in people over age 70 and those with health conditions such as high blood pressure and diseases that affect blood vessels in the brain. You and your doctor should carefully weigh the benefits of this surgery against the risks.

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